Evening Update 01 Feb

French Riviera local news

Bank - Nine men who abandoned a plan to hold up an armoured truck, carrying cash to banks, have been jailed for two to eight years by the court in Marseilles. Police discovered the plot in 2015 and in a raid, recovered a stock of weapons, including assault rifles and automatic pistols. The men, who ranged in age from 31 to 85, were known to police.

Murder - A British man is to face trial in France, for the murder of a 39 year-old French woman in Ireland. The appeals court in Paris ruled today, that there are sufficient elements to put Ian Bailey on trial for the killing. 39-year-old Sophie Toscan du Plantier was found beaten to death at her holiday home in County Cork, in southwest Ireland, in 1996.

Roads - The number of deaths on roads declined slightly last year to3,693. However fatalities involving motorcyclists, have increased almost 10%. The analysis of fatal accident,s shows inappropriate speed is the leading cause, followed by alcohol abuse.

Sport - Monaco’s Communal Council has announced the name of the municipal sports centre, being built beside the swimming pool on the port, is to be called ‘Hercule Fitness Club’. It comes after a public call for name suggestions brought in over one hundred proposals. The new gym is expected to open in April.

Disabled - Cap d’Ail has once again won the ‘Tourism and Disability’ award for the facilities it offers, by making shops and public buildings easily accessible to all. The Director of the Cap d’Ail Tourist Office, said the town is proud to offer the true meaning of public service and quality tourism for everyone.

BUSINESS

EBay is to drop PayPal, as its main payments processor, in a move that will allow people buying items to pay without leaving the website, and sellers to receive the benefit of lower processing costs. EBay has signed an agreement with Dutch firm Adyen to process payments. Shares in PayPal were down 7% in pre-market trading.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated she will fight a proposal, to give residency rights to EU citizens, during the transition period after Brexit. She said there had to be a difference, between those arriving after the UK leaves, and those who came before.

Facebook has announced annual revenues of $40bn for 2017, up 47% on the previous year, while profits jumped 56% to nearly $16bn. However, the report also shows Facebook users spent less time on the site, down about 5% in the last quarter. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said, helping people connect is more important, than maximising the time they spend on Facebook.

SPORT

Olympics - The International Olympic Committee has said there may be a serious impact on the fight against doping, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned 28 IOC suspensions on Russian athletes. Of 11 other athletes, whose appeals had been partially upheld, the CAS said those athletes would be declared ineligible for this month's Winter Games, instead of a lifetime ban. The IOC are considering an appeal.

Football - British Premier League clubs spent a record £150m in one day, during yesterday’s transfer deadline-day, to take their overall outlay for January to £430m. The most expensive move was Pierre-Emerick Au.bame.yang who joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for a club record £56m.

Rubgy - Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki and James Ryan will play their first Six Nations games for Ireland against France in Paris on Saturday. Ryan, is selected at lock, ahead of Devin Toner, while Aki made his debut in the autumn win over South Africa.